Top 20 Motorcycles at LA Progressive International Motorcycle Show
If you’re heading to the Long Beach edition of the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows, here are 20 must-see machines (with a few other recommendations thrown in there). There are plenty of other motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, scooter, customs, and accessories to check out, so if there’s an IMS anywhere near you, make sure to swing on in.
1. 2017 Suzuki SV650 ABS
2. BMW Concept 101
3. Honda Africa Twin
4. Ducati 959 Panigale
5. Indian Scout Sixty
6. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
7. KTM 1290 Super Duke R Special Edition
8. Yamaha XSR900
Based on the much-loved FZ-09, the XSR900 brings a classic Yamaha XS styling to a fully modern motorcycle. The 60th anniversary livery on the 2016 Yamaha XSR900 is very cool, so you can enjoy retro appearance with contemporary performance.
9. Triumph Thruxton R
Looking very much like a direct competitor to the new Nortons, the 2016 Triumph Thruxton R has a powerful new 1200cc twin cylinder motor. The R doesn’t just have café-styling. It also has the performance accoutrements, such as radially mounted Brembo brake calipers in the front, plus Öhlins suspension. With 62-percent more torque than last years Thruxton 850, this bike is going to do the Ace Cafe proud. Be sure to check out its brother, the Bonneville T120.
10. Ducati Monster 1200 R
As if the Monster 1200 S wasn’t enough, now there’s and incredible R version to drool over. There’s 160 horsepower lurking in that 1198cc Testastretta 11° motor, plus Öhlins suspension, a new larger rear disc brake, a new 200/55 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tire and a trellis frame that attaches to the cylinder head. The 2016 Ducati Monster 1200 R looks ready to rage in the street–we’ll take red over this black, however. Ducati also showed off the new Hypermotard 939 SP, Hyperstrada 939, and Scrambler Sixty2–we can’t wait.
11. Honda VFR1200X
With adventure touring taking over from sport touring, the 2016 Honda VFR1200X is a big attention getter at the IMS. With a big V-4 motor, it’s not for any sort of serious off-roading, but you should be able to get totally real on pavement. Decked out with Honda Genuine Accessories bags, just looking at it had us dreaming of destinations for rides.
12. Samco V-1 Warbird
Samco V-1 Warbird. Made in America, and using Buell powerplants (watch for a switch to S&S soon), the 2016 Samco V-1 Warbird is a striking handmade machine. As many parts as possible are made in the United States, and Samco bills it as a “Truly American Made Motorcycle.” That’s good, but we can’t wait to take this trellis-framed wonder into the canyons. Watch for a review of this very special bike soon.
13. KTM 690 Duke
A greatly under-appreciated machine, the 690 Duke has some engine refinements this year. There’s a new cylinder head to go along with a new lighter, stronger piston and connecting rod, plus a second counterbalancer. Apparently, the 2016 KTM 690 Duke’s powerband is now 1000 rpm wider and peaks at 73 horsepower. That may not sound like a lot, but the 690 Duke only weighs about 350 pounds gassed up. We like the orange version.
14. Suzuki Bandit 1250S ABS The Bandit drifts in and out of the Suzuki lineup and we’re glad to see it back. It’s a jack-of-all-trades motorcycle that sticks with the basics and the 2016 Suzuki Bandit 1250S ABS has warded off the many technological advances that many riders want to avoid.
15. Triumph Street Twin
The Bonneville line grows up a bit with a new 900cc liquid-cooled motor with the best styling yet. The impressive 59 ft/lbs of torque peak comes on at just 3200 rpm, so we can’t wait to ride the 2016 Triumph Street Twin…and we will be soonhttps://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/10/28/2016-triumph-street-twin-bonneville-meets-modernity/ in Spain. In the meantime, we’re enjoying just looking at this beautiful machine.
16. Suzuki V-Strom 650XT
The off-road version of the V-Strom 650 platform has the distinctive beak of the V-Strom 1000, and for this year it has been stripped down for lighter weight. All sorts of accessories are available for the 2016 V-Strom 650XT to make it as rugged for adventure riding and touring as you like. We enjoyed checking out the new less-is-more appearance.
17. CSC RX3 Cyclone
This one is a great unknown and we spent quite a bit of time checking it out. Priced at just $3495, the 2016 CSC RX3 Cyclone is a Chinese-made 250cc adventure bike. It has niceties such as fuel injection, electric start, engine guards, water-cooling and a six-speed transmission, side bags and a top case, and the built quality looks good. CSC tells us the bike has done Baja and the 10,000 kilometer Brest-Dushanbe Rally through the western Asia, so we look forward to testing one. Like everyone else, we wonder how bad/good can it be for that price!
18. Honda CBR500R
We’ve seen photos of this mid-size sportbike, but they don’t do justice to it in person. The redesigned 2016 Honda CBR500R may be labeled a beginner bike (though we think the CB300F is a better choice), but it’s really just a capable inexpensive sport bike. It looks very cool, and we look forward to testing one on the streets of LA and in the canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains.
19. Suzuki Burgman 650 ABS Executive
A cult classic with over 100,000 of these maxi scooters on the road, the 2016 Burgman 650 ABS Executive is ready for touring with heated grips, a backrest for the passenger, and heated seating for the driver and passenger. Motorcyclists may turn their noses up at scooters, but the Burgman 650 ABS Executive is quite an accomplished two-wheeler. Grab a ride on one if you ever have the chance.
20. Yamaha YZX1000R
Okay, so it has a couple of extra wheels…this thing is a monster. Using a liter-sized triple as a power plant, and featuring a truckload of accessories from the Yamaha accessories catalog, the 2016 Yamaha YZX1000R looks like a ton of fun. Be sure to check out the suspension!
Photography by Don Williams
I’m still seeking rumors of the Honda Silverwing replacement in the U.S.!